General Chat

My first day at grammar school was in 1958. How different things used to be!

Bottle green uniform with sailor style stupid hat too! Gymslip, the hem of which had to be 2 inches below the knee and it would be measured, a purse on a cord across your chest, lace up brown shoes outdoors and 'regulation' sandals indoors. Cream, not white blouses with a compulsory red and green striped tie. Green or red gingham check dresses in the summer. The hat had to be worn at all times with winter uniform, even with a blazer. Also the dreaded bottle green knickers!! No makeup, long hair plaited or tied back, no jewellery.

I remember we could change from gymslip to a skirt in the second year because it was considered we had hips by then! Most of us stuck with our gymslips though as we liked the 'St Trinian' look.

No eating food in the street when you were outside the school grounds either. I got very good at sucking fruit gums or spangles without moving my lips!!

56 years ago for me - navy gymslip, yellow sash, navy knickers, navy blazer with badge and navy beret with badge

It was my first day at grammar school.

Green and brown, stupid hat, pleated skirt, green drawers. Those were the days.